Nick Barnes
BBC Newcastle's Sunderland commentator

Sam Allardyce has had a week to assimilate the size of his task at Sunderland but he’s been handicapped by having only two days to work with his full squad because of international commitments. 

On top of that he has two players suspended – Jeremain Lens and Sebastian Coates – for the match at West Brom. 

Image source, BBC Sport

It’s a case of needs must for Allardyce who has to, as he says ‘get hold of this team’, and stop the rot. Expect a much more defensively minded line up for his first match in charge as Sunderland look for their first win of the season and West Brom their first home win. 

The Black Cats' recent record at the Hawthorns is poor - five defeats and one draw in, which they have conceded 15 and scored only three. 

Earlier we produced this beauty of a crest for the Sportsday Live Football Team...

Yeah well, we could have done this too but we have lots of important investigative journalism to be getting on with...

Andy Murray has beaten Tomas Berdych 6-1, 6-3 to reach the semi-final of the Shanghai Masters.

*Easy. Easy*

Image source, Getty Images

Murray broke Berdych in the third game of the match and saved two break points in the next before racing through the first set in 38 minutes.

The onslaught continued in the second set, Murray making it nine successive games to get to 3-0 before progressing to a semi-final against Novak Djokovic.

Read more here.

A Question of Sport Teaser

Earlier on we asked which eight teams - apart from the Home Nations - have appeared in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup. 

The answer? Argentina, Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, New Zealand, South Africa and Western Samoa.

Ed Marriage
BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

A week after their World Cup came to an end, England internationals George Ford (pictured) and Anthony Watson have been included in the starting XV for Bath in their opening Premiership match against Exeter on Saturday.

Sam Burgess has been named among the replacements, along with Rob Webber. Henry Slade is on the bench for Exeter.

Saracens have included two England players in the starting XV for their match against Sale on Sunday. Alex Goode and Jamie George start for the reigning champions, while Mako Vunipola and George Kruis are on the bench.

Oooo we like this... Very moody.

We love the texture of the crest, Dara. It really looks like the bird is moving...

#PretendingToKnowAboutArt

Richard Conway
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

Sepp Blatter has given interview to Swiss TV and described a £1.3m payment to Uefa president Michel Platini as "a gentleman's agreement".  

The Fifa president said: "Everyone is against Sepp Blatter and it is not fair and not sporting."  

Keep sending us your favourite badges and new designs of club crests using #bbcsportsday.

Don't forget, it doesn't have to be a football club. We welcome all sports here.

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He can certainly talk the talk but it appears Jurgen Klopp can also walk the walk….

Did you know the new Liverpool boss completed a thesis on walking at Goethe University of Frankfurt?

Hear more from his old professor in this BBC Sports world interview.

Phil Goodlad
BBC Scotland

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Scotland head coach Vern Cotter says he's picked a team "to have a real go" in the World Cup quarter-final against Australia.

Cotter, as expected, has named Fraser Brown and Tim Swinson as replacements for banned duo Ross Ford and Jonny Gray. And Peter Horne comes into the centre for the injured Matt Scott.

But, despite missing three key players, Cotter says is confident his players can cause an upset at Twickenham.

"These guys are competitors. The focus is to win. That's the mentality we're taking. We've got things that we can throw at them and upset them. We're going to have a real go at them."

Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Rugby have begun the search for two new signings...a vacuum cleaner and tumble dryer...

The club have appealed to supporters for donations, external of either appliance to use at their Lady Bay training ground. 

The Sports Minister was ticked by this surprise appearance by BBC Sport's Richard Conway...

Andy Murray is making short work of world number five Tomas Berdych in China, the Scot taking the first set 6-1 in 39 minutes.  

Sara Orchard
BBC Sport

It has been confirmed that appeals were lodged by the Scottish Rugby Union against the suspensions of Ross Ford and Jonny Gray at 11:55 BST on Friday.

Both forwards have been banned for three-weeks after being found guilty of making dangerous tackles against Samoa. Neither has been included in the XV to face Australia in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

The appeal will be heard at 10:00 BST on Saturday in London by a committee chaired by Justice Lex Mpati (South Africa) and also comprising Justice Graeme Mew (Canada) and Robbie Deans (New Zealand).

We would love to see more of your designs of club badges... 

Does your club need bringing into the 21st century with a new one?

We want you to use your vivid imaginations and send us your new designs.

Can't wait to see what you lot come up with...

Image source, Getty Images

Liam Bradford
BBC Radio Manchester

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As expected, Manuel Pellegrini confirmed the absence of striker Sergio Aguero for the next month due to a "muscle injury," but he also announced the Blues are without Gael Clichy, David Silva, Fabian Delph and Aleksander Kolarov. Silva picked up "a kick to the ankle" on international duty in midweek.

Pellegrini was also less than pleased with Belgium manager Marc Wilmots, who elected to play central defender Vincent Kompany for the national side despite City sending a medical report asking them not to. 

The City manager did concede that Wilmots had every right to use Kompany but suggested that rule change might be required.

Ben Stokes has fallen for 57 in the final session of the day, as England move on to 534-6 against Pakistan. Now leading my 11 runs. Captain Alastair Cook is still at the crease on 258 not out, having batted longer than any England batsman in history,

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The Tony Soprano of the cricketing badger world?